Bow



G. c. WELTER.

Bow.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25| 192.!-

Patented May 30, 1922.

' INVE/vro A TTOH/VEYS .iran erre "E FEE..

. BOW.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

vllatcnted May .30, 1922,

Application led January 25,1921. SeriaI No. 439,816.

To all fui/omit may comic/MM Be it known that l, (inox/'nn CLEVELAND lV'iLrnn, a citizen of the'll'nited States,4 and a vresident lof Boswell, in the county of Chaves and State of New Mexico, have invented .a new and improved Bow, rof which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In connection with tops and moreparticularly that type of top serving as a covering for vehicles of the automotive type, it is well appreciated that two paramount defects have been experienced.

The first of these defects is to be found in that the bows serving to support the top when it is in its raised position, are usually constructed of wood. most desirable in that the seam may be sheathed so as to conform to the `various curves desired, at the same time giving those necessary qualifications of strength and lightness. However, due to the vibrations incident to the operation of the vehicle and the action of air currents thereon, a constant movement of the top with respect to the supporting bows comes constantly into being. Minute particles or splinters become separated from the edges of the bows supporting the top, due to this movement, and thus a rough edge is provided which at all times bears against the top, quickly resulting in deterioration of the same in that a .fabric provided as a covering quickly becomes worn through at those points which contact with the bows.

A second defect experienced in connection with bows of this type is the wearing action exerted by the same upon the bracing straps lying adjacent the under side of the top covering. A subsidiary. defect experienced in connection with the last enumerated objeetion is to be found in that straps are in some instances secured to the body of the bows, this being effected by means of tacks or similar retaining elements. Bue to the vibration of the parts and shrinkage, the openings through the straps provided for the passage of the securing elements quickly become enlarged, resulting in an unsightly appearance on the part of the strap aside from the general weakening of the same.

Having these defects in mind, I have now constructed a bow more particularly intended for use in connection with the supportinoa of the covering for vehicles, which bow shtall be constructed in such a manner that This material is thev Shall provide certain novel retaining means for the straps, by means of which they will be held without danger of the same becoming worn or torn. lteferencevis had to the attached sheet of drawings which illustrate onepractical embodiment of my invention,

`and in which- Figure l isa sectional side view taken through the top and its supporting bows, which are shown as applied to a vehicle of the type specified.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of one of the bows, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional side view taken on lines 33 of Figure 2.

For convenience of illustration, I have shown my invention as applied to what is known as a live-bow type, in which front and rearmost bows 5 and 6 respectively, may be constructed in any conventional manner if this is desired, as the fabric forming the top 7 is fixed to these bows, the intermediate bows, i. e., those bows serving to support the fabric' 7 by merely having the same rest upon them, being constructed in accordance with my improved design.

Referring new more particularly to Figures 2 and 3 which illustrate a bow constructed in accordance with my invention, it will be seen that the bow 8 may be of any desirable material and constructed in any conventional manner, the curved and center portions of said bow being conveniently wrapped as at 9. However. contrary to the conventional construction, a covering of metal is associated with the bow 8 and eX- tends preferably intermediate its curved portions. This covering l0 may be of any desired metal adaptable for this purpose as long as the exterior face of the same presents a smooth surface. As has been illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, tacks or other suitable securing members 11 may be utilized for retaining the metal covering l0 in applied position.

Now with a view of providing securing means for the straps 12 and retaining the same in such a manner that no damage to these members will result, openings are provided through the cover at a point adjacent that at which the same is bent downwardly to conform to` the side Walls of the bow ad' jacent their .point of, connection \v1th the upper surface., thus providing what might be termed a channel through which onel'ot the straps vl2 may pass, the same occupying a position intermediate the upper face of the bow 8 and the inner face of the cover-` in l0.

I lhis construction, as Will readily be appreciated, will Serve by virtue ofthe fric tional engagement existent between lthe eleticularly applicable for use inconnection .with supporting the fabric of an automotive vehicle top, but Whichis not necessarily limited to this connection and byy means of Vwhich the top will be supported in such a Obviously, numerous m'odiications ystructure mightreadily be resorted to Without inthe least departing from the scope of my claim, which reads:l f

A bow including a body portion, a layer of metal presenting a smooth outer face encircling said body portion adjacent its points of contact with the top covering to be supported by said bow said metal being'formed with openings, the top supporting straps being adapted to pass through said openings and being clamped in this position by means of the body of said metal. i

' GROVER CLEVELAND WELTER. 

